After a visit to Carolina Panthers training camp, it appears WR Dwayne Jarrett has made a lot of progress, rookie DE Everette Brown may have been a steal in the second round, and the loss DT Maa’ka Kemoeatu will force the team to bring in a veteran for help.

Usually teams take hits in free agency. But at this time of year, positions do. Right now, two of the most attractive tackles have been taken off the market, but there is still some value at the position.

Well, that didn’t take long. Moments after completing a deal for offensive tackle Jordan Gross, the Carolina Panthers designated Julius Peppers as their franchise player, a league source confirmed Thursday.

There is yet another wrinkle to introduce into the Julius Peppers-Carolina Panthers saga. Any team that trades for the Panthers Pro Bowl defensive end will have to satisfy not only Carolina but Peppers as well.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Panthers DE Julius Pepper‘s trade wish list has just four teams, and three of them are in the NFC. The Panthers already have ruled out two of the teams, leading the newspaper source to believe those teams are in the NFC South, Carolina’s division.

Even though Thursday is the final day for teams to slap a franchise tag on players, Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers said he is uncertain whether he will be designated the Panthers’ franchise player.